Care
Aspidoras spilotus is an ideal bottom dweller for peaceful, softwater aquaria. The substrate should consist of soft sand in order to protect the delicate sensory barbels, with plenty of shady hiding spots provided amongst tangles of driftwood. Peat filtration and leaf litter will both help to acidify the water whilst giving it a natural tea-coloured appearance with the tannins that are released. Whilst plants are not a big feature of this species' natural habitat, they may make the aquarium more aesthetically pleasing.
A. spilotus is a highly sociable species and must be kept in groups of 5 or more (10+ is better). The aquarium should be well mature before this species is added and frequent partial water changes are a must, as they can be rather sensitive to elevated nitrate levels. Large shoals of small midwater ‘dither fish' will encourage these fish out into view.
A. spilotus have quite a variable pattern and are capable of minor colour change depending on the colour of the substrate they are resting on.
Aspidoras are closely related to the popular aquarium catfish
Corydoras. The family Callichthyidae (armoured catfish) is comprised of 2 sub-families: Callichthyinae and Corydoradinae. The genus
Aspidoras sits within Corydoradinae, along with the genera
Brochis,
Corydoras, and
Scleromystax. Catfish from the
Aspidoras genus are typically slightly larger than dwarf species of
Corydoras (such as
C. pygmaeus) but they are more elongate, less bulky, and have smaller eyes.
Aspidoras also have a smaller head compared to that of
Corydoras; indeed,
Aspidoras possess a dual fontanel bone structure in the skull, in contrast to only one much larger fontanel in
Corydoras. These catfish have the ability to breathe air intestinally, so a small gap should be left between the surface of the water and the cover slides in order for the fish to come up to the surface and take air in. They may do this numerous times per day. Often seen on sale labelled simply as C125.
Feeding
Sinking catfish pellets/granules/tablets, flake, and frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, daphnia, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp etc.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium.
Aspidoras reproduce in a similar manner to that of
Corydoras: mature fish can be triggered into spawning by performing a large, slightly cooler water change and letting the temperature slowly creep back up towards the top of the preferred range. A pair will adopt a ‘T position’ where the male fertilises the eggs that are held between the females’ pelvic fins. The semi-adhesive eggs will then be deposited onto plants, décor, or the sides of the aquarium etc and the process repeated. The eggs generally take around 30 hours to hatch, and after a further 24 hours the fry will have used up their yolk sacs and become free-swimming and are able to take finely-powdered first foods, microworms, and newly hatched brineshrimp. The fry take approximately 8 weeks to reach full adult pattern and colouration.
